Combination container and cushion



C. H. MANNING COMBINATION CONTAINER AND CUSHION Aug. 11, 1964 Filed March 24, 1961 6fiar'lesH.Manninj ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,143,748 COMBlNATION CONTAINER AND CUSHION Charles H. Manning, 115 Main St., Troy, N.C. Filed Mar. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 98,050 3 Claims. (Cl. -344) This invention relates to combination devices of various kinds by which multiple functions can be performed during the process of daily living, and to combination devices which directly or indirectly are of definite useful ness to mankind.

The invention relates particularly to a combination container and cushion useful as a container for holding articles including while immobile or while traveling to a particular location, and thereafter upon the reaching of such location as a cushion of selective single or multiple thicknesses.

Combination devices capable of use in various ways have been provided, however there has been no provision for a combination container and cushion which could be used both for the carrying of articles to an area or specific location where one was to be seated and then the container used as a protector on a seat or as a seat cushion.

it is an object of the invention to utilize cushioning material in sheet form and of sufficient flexibility to permit it to be folded upon itself and made into a container by and in which articles can be carried and due to the thickness and relatively soft surface of the material, the latter can be employed for its cushioning effect selectively in single or in multiple thicknesses and with means for fastening together the overlapping portions of the cushioning material to provide a container in which articles can be received thereby providing a multiple utility article with a containing and cushioning function.

Another object of the invention is to provide a use for mill ends resulting from the manufacture of rugs and carpets and which ordinarily would be of little or no value and by the use of such low cost articles to produce an inexpensive article of multiple uses to the general public.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination article which can be easily manufactured from inexpensive readily available material to produce articles of multiple utility and thereby to provide employment as well as articles which have great utility.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of one application of the invention in the shape of a bag;

FIG. 2, a perspective of a device half open;

FIG. 3, a perspective of a device completely open and in place ready for use;

FIG. 4, an enlarged fragmentary transverse section on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6, a fragmentary perspective partially exploded of a container having a handle attached interiorly;

FIG. 7, a perspective of a device of cushioning material of sponge rubber or plastic;

FIG. 8, a perspective partially broken away of a container with stitching or lacing along the edges and with sealed fasteners for the attachment of a handle inside the same;

FIG. 9, a perspective of a multifold comb bag, cushion and blanket; and

FIG. 10, a perspective of the object of FIG. 9 in extended position.

Briefly stated the invention is a multiple utility com- 3,143,748 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 bination container and cushion which in one form is a relatively thick fiat sheet and in another form is such sheet folded upon itself and connected at its edges in a manner to form a bag or container in which articles can be held and carried.

With continued reference to the drawings the multiple utility combination container and cushion 10 of the present invention is composed of cushioning material of a backing 11 carrying a deep pile 12. The backing and pile are of sufficient thickness that they provide a relatively soft cushion when a single layer is placed between the user and a support as illustrated in FIG. 3, such support being in the form of a board 13 which may form the seat of a stand for spectators observing performances in front of the same.

In order to provide a double thickness and incidentally a holder or container for articles, the cushioning material may be folded upon itself and fastened together at opposite edges in any desired manner, for example by means of an attaching tape 14 which may be of the type having a plurality of hook-forming pile threads as disclosed in Patent No. 2,717,437 and manufactured under the trade name Velcro. Such tape is cemented or otherwise secured to the backing 11, the surfaces of such tape being of a construction or composition that when the tape is brought together it firmly unites so that a very substantial force is required to separate the same, and in fact the intimacy between the two sections of tape is such as to hold the parts in contact until such time as force is actually applied to separate the same.

In order to insure that the free edges of the bag remain in contact one with the other, an additional precaution may be provided in the form of a hook 16 and eye 17 which may be located at the extremities of the edges that are at each side of the material.

When the cushioning material is folded upon itself and its contacting edges are sealed together, an opening 15 will be provided through which access can be had to the interior of the bag as is illustrated in FIG. 1. If desired the bag may be provided with a handle 18 having one end secured by adhesive 19 or other means and with the outer end of the handle provided with a projection 29 which forms one of the cooperating elements of the detachable fastener, the other element being a socket 21 into which the projection 20 is received.

In FIG. 6 is disclosed a modification in which the cushioning material is composed of a backing 22 having a heavy cushioning pile 23 and additional cushioning of foam rubber 24 or the like bonded thereto and constituting a relatively heavy thick cushion regardless of weight used in one thickness or folded upon itself, the material being illustrated as being folded upon itself and including the attaching tape 14 one at each edge and with the books 16 and the eyes 17 at the outer corners.

With the structure of FIG. 6 a structure is provided particularly when folded upon itself, of a thickness corresponding to a stuffed pillow. If desired a handle 25 may be provided having the nap removed from the extremities of the same side and with the projection 20 of a detachable fastener also carried at each end which may be received in a complementary portion of such fastener all on the contiguous inner surfaces of the material when it is folded upon itself.

The device of FIG. 6 is illustrated as unfolded in flat condition in FIG. 7 in which condition the foam rubber 24 rests upon a supporting surface 26 so that the relatively heavy nap 23 is in uppermost position to he sat upon and if desired employed as a foot mat or throw rug.

In FIG. 8 is disclosed a combination container and cushion of a material similar to that of FIGS. 6 and 7 but instead of the tape 14 the side edges are fastened together by means of lacing or stitching 27, also instead of having two sockets 21, a socket 21 and a projection 20 are provided and a handle is likewise provided with a socket and a projection whereby the mouth of the bag may be fastened directly with one side in contact with the other or the handle can be applied.

In FIGURES 9 and 10 a device is illustrated which can be used as a bag or container, as a cushion, or as a blanket. It comprises a backing 28 of burlap, jute or the like, and a relatively thick dense pile 29 of cotton,-nylon, or other material. The material may be given multiple folds for example, 'W-shape and the, edges fastened together by tape 14 as in the preceeding figures. Also a pair of eyes or receiving portions 21 may be employed to receive the projections 20, of a handle 25 the same as in FIGURE 6.

With the modification disclosed, when folded, as in FIGURE 9, a container with two pockets is provided and this container can be used as a cushion. By separating the folds and placing the material in extending condition a blanket is provided which maybe used beneath or as a cover for persons or things.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a combination container, and cushion and blanket can be provided which is relatively simple and inexpensive and susceptible to multiple uses, it being possible to produce the same from mill ends or other ready sources of supply.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated .in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

. What is claimed is:

1. A combination container and cushion comprising relatively thick cushioning material including a flexible backing having a relatively long pile, said material .being of a flexibility permitting the material to be folded upon itself, an attaching tape located along at least two contiguous edges of said folded material for fastening said contiguous portions to each other, interengaging means located adjacent to said contiguous edges, an elongated handle-forming strap, means'for connecting the opposite ends of said strap to said material, at least one end of said strap being removable, whereby said cushioning material may be folded and fastening along at least two contiguous edges to form a container.

2. A combination container and cushion constructed of relatively thick cushioning material in sheet form and comprising a backing, relatively long pile extending outwardly from one side of said backing, said backing being of a flexibility to be folded upon itself in multiple thicknesses, said pile being relatively soft and of a thickness to provide a cushioning eifect when used in either single or multiple thicknesses, interengaging means located along at least two contiguous edges of said folded material for fastening said contiguous portions to each other to maintain said material in folded position and forming a container, an elongated handle-forming strap, means for connecting the opposite ends of said strap to said backing, and at least one end of said strap being removable, Whereby said cushioning material may be folded upon itself and fastened along at least two contiguous edges to form a container.

3. The structure of claim 2 including a sheet of foam rubber permanently attached to the opposite side of said backing with respect to said pile.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,042,692 Wurzburg June 2, 1936 2,315,126 Michalke Mar. 30, 1943 2,542,246 Grosz Feb. 20, 1951 2,865,433 Warner Dec. 23, 1958 3,052,895 Lo Vico Sept. 11, 1962 3,066,321 Kintner Dec. 4, 1962 

1. A COMBINATION CONTAINER AND CUSHION COMPRISING RELATIVELY THICK CUSHIONING MATERIAL INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE BACKING HAVING A RELATIVELY LONG PILE, SAID MATERIAL BEING OF A FLEXIBILITY PERMITTING THE MATERIAL TO BE FOLDED UPON ITSELF, AN ATTACHING TAPE LOCATED ALONG AT LEAST TWO CONTIGUOUS EDGES OF SAID FOLDED MATERIAL FOR FASTENING SAID CONTIGUOUS PORTIONS TO EACH OTHER, INTERENGAGING MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT TO SAID CONTIGUOUS EDGES, AN ELONGATED HANDLE-FORMING STRAP, MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID STRAP TO SAID MATERIAL, AT LEAST ONE END OF SAID STRAP BEING REMOVABLE, WHEREBY SAID CUSHIONING MATERIAL MAY BE FOLDED AND FASTENING ALONG AT LEAST TWO CONTIGUOUS EDGES TO FORM A CONTAINER. 